success – FMS TEL

FMS TEL Success – Publication – Ashley Reynolds

A piece of research I have recently been involved in has been published in the BMC Medical Education online journal and is available to read now. It can also be accessed via the University library here.

The paper, titled ‘Evaluation of the Training in Early Detection for Early Intervention (TEDEI) e-learning course using Kirkpatrick’s method‘ focuses on the need for training of healthcare professionals in early detection of atypical motor development (cerebral palsy) in infants up to six months old.

Working in collaboration with Dr Anna Basu and Janice Pearse as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), I developed a video-based e-learning course to address this need, with results from a pre-course and post-course quiz being analysed to evaluate whether participation in the course had improved knowledge and changed the behaviour of healthcare professionals.

The two-hour course used a Traffic Light System to both demonstrate abnormalities and also quiz users on their understanding of them, and the potential need to monitor/refer.

As demonstrated by the research, the course received positive responses from all stakeholders. Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) who have taken the course have improved their knowledge and confidence in this area, leading to better outcomes for families.

The course is available free to staff from Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. More information about the course, including access and booking, can be found on the University Website.

References

Officer, E., Johnson, M., Blickwedel, J., Reynolds, A., Pearse, R., Pearse, J. & Basu, A.P. (2023) ‘Evaluation of the Training in Early Detection for Early Intervention (TEDEI) e-learning course using Kirkpatrick’s method’, BMC medical education, 23(1), pp. 129–129.

Blogging: Getting Started and Keeping it Going

We were recently invited to present this blog, and our experiences running it at the Directors of Education forum. We have recorded this presentation as a video for anyone who may be interested in starting their own blog within their team.

The presentation covers:

Identifying needs and measuring impact
Things to consider before getting started
How to keep a blog running over a long period of time

FMS TEL Blog: A practice-sharing success story

Newcastle University staff can watch the video on Panopto.

Probity in Online Exams – Success at TEPARG for SDS and FMS TEL

This post highlights the work done by SDS and FMS TEL to support remote exams over the past few years. Successful techniques for keeping students informed and supported are discussed, including student voice.

Work done by the School of Dentistry and FMS TEL Team won first prize at the Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group Hybrid Conference this year, for the presentation on ‘Adopting a flexible approach to professional anatomy spotter exams during COVID’. You can read the internal news item on Sharepoint.

This work was also subsequently presented at the Newcastle University Learning and Teaching Conference 2022. Newcastle Staff can view the poster here for an overview.

This work centres on how exams subject to oversight from professional bodies – in this case the General Dental Council – could be run with adequate probity when these could not be undertaken in person.

The first element of this is to run the exams ‘live’ rather than as a 24h format. This meant that teaching staff and professional staff could be on hand to resolve any technical difficulties or make invigilation decisions.

A variety of question designs were also thought through. The final format was a ‘stimulus’ question type on Canvas, allowing an image to be shown with answer options alongside. Now this question type can also be used with Inspera exams.

The support of students with SSPs was also a key consideration, and rest breaks were granted across the board when exams were very lengthy. Students were asked what they thought about the probity measures put in place, such as the use of an exam declaration, and checking responses which may have been copy-pasted. Overall, the response was positive.

A key element in the smooth running of these exams was the preparation offered to students beforehand, such as clear messaging via email and the opportunity to practice with the exam environment before undertaking their summative assessments. 99% of students agreed that they had been well-supported throughout the process and during the exams themselves via the Zoom exam hotline. Most calls were students double-checking their responses had been submitted, rather than having technical issues.

Learning from these exams has already been carried forward for digital exams running through the new Inspera exam system, and the confidence staff and students have in the procedure means that any future changes to circumstances will be much easier to navigate for these teams and cohorts.